Topband: 3B9C to KA6W

[Bill Tippett <btippett@alum.mit.edu>]

        I saw this spotted on packed a few days ago
and today saw the following posted on the 3B9C
website:

"We are delighted to announce that 3B9C has worked KA6W on 160m CW.

This QSO took place on Thursday 25 March at 1401 UTC, which was just at our 
sunset.

The path 3B9/W6 looks virtually impossible on paper, with almost no common 
darkness.

We are pleased that our efforts of the past week have paid off with this 
QSO. The operator at 3B9C at that time was Eric, K3NA."

http://www.fsdxa.com/3b9c/6m-to-w6.html

        On this date, 3B9C sunset was 1352 and KA6W
sunrise was 1405...only 13 minutes of common darkness.
Those of us on the East Coast might first think this was
long path, but it was probably short path since  3B9C is a
bearing of 354 degrees and a distance of 13647 km from
KA6W.

        This path is not too much different from the sunrise path
we have to 9V1/9M2 from the East Coast.  From my QTH,
9V1 is 353 degrees and a distance of 15901 km, and several
have worked 9V1GO or 9M2AX near our local sunrise.

        The moral of this story is, check out the sunrise/sunset
times for any DX station you are chasing and BE THERE!  This
also demonstrates what a competent DX station is capable of
on Topband with good antennas, power and operators that know
what they are doing.  Unfortunately, 3B9C is the exception to
the rule for most DXpeditions on Topband.  Congratulations on
a great QSO to both 3B9C and KA6W!

                                73,  Bill  W4ZV
                                 

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